Xabi Alonso told to ‘find someone else’ and axe Chelsea star after Fulham win

Xabi Alonso has been told he needs to make a ruthless decision and axe Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez following last night’s win over Fulham.

The Blues got their Premier League campaign off to a winning start at the home of their west London rivals, edging a five-goal thriller at Craven Cottage.

Alonso’s new-look side laid down something of a marker and demonstrated th attacking potential that has marked them out as potential title contenders.

After a summer of rest and recouperation, Cole Palmer looked more like his old self and got on the scoresheet, along with Joao Pedro and debutant Morgan Rogers.

At the other end, despite significant reinforcements, the Blues still looked less than secure, not helped by another error-strewn performance from their goalkeeper.

Sanchez joined Chelsea from Brighton three years ago and has never fully convinced under a succession of managers who have all attempted to ease him out of the side.

The 28-year-old was again at fault last night and former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf believes Sanchez’s latest calamitous display should represent the final straw.

He told ESPNFC: ‘I felt they were shaky like everybody else. You know as a defender at the back when you don’t have a Barthez or a great goalkeeper you don’t feel confident, therefore you get shaky.

‘You see on the second goal with Colwill he should’ve got on the ball with the header and you have nobody behind to save you when you make a mistake.

‘It’s hard to be a goalkeeper because you have nobody behind you but we know Sanchez. We have known him for a while and that he can do mistakes.

‘But when you play for a club like Chelsea and you see what they can do offensively they were perfect the three guys up front scoring three goals away from home that’s great, but you cannot waste that by making silly mistakes.

‘King’s goal it’s a good shot but why do you open up at the front post? You have to be there and control that, you cannot concede a goal on that side. It’s impossible, you play for Chelsea.

‘There is an issue and Xabi Alonso has to find someone else really quickly. It’s been an issue for a while, we don’t want to see that any more.

‘All due respect to Sanchez we tried, it doesn’t work and when it’s important he’s not there to save the club so we have to find another one.’

Alonso, meanwhile, would not be drawn into criticising Sanchez after the game. The goalkeeper left too much room at his near post for Josh King’s equaliser and was slow to get down, the shot zipping between his wrists and in.

‘It’s not about individuals,’ said Alonso. ‘We can adjust a few things. The first goal, we can do better to defend, to avoid that.

‘It’s part of the game. We need to accept and to learn. This is going to be a process. All the lines – strikers, midfielders, defence, goalkeeper – we want to do better in everything.

‘The goal was to start good. It’s been a good start. Relax and carry on.’